Marching and the Bassoon

There are several reasons why bassoons are not typically used in marching bands:

1. Bassoons are large and bulky instruments, making them impractical for the physical demands of marching.
2. Bassoons are delicate instruments, particularly vulnerable to damage from outdoor conditions such as weather and rough handling during marching maneuvers.
3. Bassoons produce a soft, mellow sound that might not project well in outdoor settings or over the sound of larger marching band instruments like brass and percussion.
4. The bassoon is not traditionally associated with the types of music commonly performed by marching bands, which often favor brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments that can project in an outdoor environment.

Overall, while the bassoon is a versatile and expressive instrument in other musical contexts, its size, fragility, and sound characteristics make it less suitable for the rigorous demands of marching bands.

For occasions where bassoon performance in marching, particularly in featured solos, we recommend the Legere bassoon reed for ease of playing outdoors in changing climate conditions.